System for processing exercise-related data

ABSTRACT

A portable apparatus includes a housing, the apparatus includes: a heart activity sensor configured to measure heart activity measurement data related to a user carrying out a physical exercise; a communication circuitry configured to provide the portable apparatus with wireless communication capability; a memory unit configured to store an audio track; and a processing circuitry configured to receive configuration data from an external user interface apparatus over the bidirectional wireless communication connection established through the communication circuitry. The received configuration data includes control data controlling audio playback of the audio track to process and play the audio track according to the received configuration data. The portable apparatus includes a support structure that enables attachment of the portable apparatus to a body of the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/961,575, filed on Dec. 7, 2010, which claims priority based onFinnish Patent Application No. 20096365, filed on Dec. 18, 2009, whichare incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention relates to the field of biometric sensing and,particularly to processing measured exercise-related measurement data.

2. Description of the Related Art

Heart-rate monitors and other biometric sensors are commonly used byprofessional athletes as well as by conventional people practicingexercising. Heart-rate monitors and other biometric sensors typicallyprovide a user with information enabling efficient workout. A typicalheart-rate monitoring system includes a biometric sensor attached to thebody of the user and configured to measure heart-rate of the user, totransmit the measured heart-rate to another device worn by the user (awrist device, for example). The other device receives the heart-rateinformation from the biometric sensor, processes the heart-rateinformation, and displays the processed heart-rate information. Theother device may also process the heart-rate so as to calculate moreadvanced information, such as energy expenditure and fitness parametersof the user.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninvention defined by the subject matter of the independent claims.

Embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for measuring and processingexercise-related information;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable apparatus according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating method for processingexercise-related measurement data according to an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification mayrefer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, thisdoes not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the sameembodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment.Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provideother embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for use to measureexercise-related data in order to monitor workout of a user 100.Referring to FIG. 1, the user may wear various devices that measure andprocess the exercise-related data. The user 100 is provided with thefollowing equipment: a user interface apparatus in the form of a wristunit 106, a heart rate sensor 102 worn on the chest of the user 100, anupper-arm-mounted positioning device 104, and a shoe-mounted stridesensor 108. Other accessories not illustrated in FIG. 1 include a bikesensor configured to measure the speed of a bike and/or a pedaling powerof the user and a swimming sensor configured to monitor swimmingmotions, water pressure etc. The accessories 102, 104, 108 communicatewirelessly with the wrist device 106. Various accessories may beflexibly used as needed, i.e. all of them are not necessarily needed allthe time, or by all users, or in all use cases.

The user interface apparatus 106 comprises a user interface which maycomprise a display, means for producing sound, a keyboard, and/or akeypad. The display may be a liquid crystal display, for example, but itmay also be implemented by any appropriate technique. The display mayalso incorporate other user interaction means, such as touch input, orhaptic feedback, i.e. the display may be a touch screen. The means forproducing sound may be a loudspeaker or a simpler means, such as a piezoelement, for producing beeps or other audio signals. The keyboard/keypadmay comprise a complete (QWERTY) keyboard, a mere numeric keypad or onlya few push buttons and/or rotary buttons. In addition, the userinterface 308 may comprise other prior art user interface elements, forexample various means for focusing a cursor (mouse, track ball, variousarrow keys, touch sensitive area etc.) or elements enabling audiocontrol. A parameter relating to the exercise may be shown on the userinterface 106, on the display, for example. The user interface device106 also comprises means for communicating with the accessory devices102, 104, and 108, as described in greater detail below.

The heart rate sensor 102 is used for measuring the user's heartactivity. The heart activity comprises heart rate and one ormultichannel EKG (Electrocardiogram), for example. The heart activitysensor 102 may further measure other physiological parameters that canbe measured from the user. There exist various wireless heart ratemonitoring concepts where a heart rate sensor attached to the user'schest measures the user's heart activity and transmits associated heartactivity data telemetrically to a heart rate receiver, such as the wristdevice 106 attached to the user's wrist. The transmission of the heartactivity data may utilize the principles of time division and/or packettransmission, for example. However, the heart-rate (and/or otherbiometric data) is conventionally only measured, and the measurementdata is forwarded to the wrist device 106 for further processing.

The positioning device 104 receives external location information. Thepositioning device 104 may be a receiver of a global navigationsatellite system. Such a system may be the Global Positioning System(GPS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the GalileoPositioning System (Galileo), the Beidou Navigation System, or theIndian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), for example. Thepositioning device 104 determines its location elements, such aslongitude, latitude, and altitude, using signals transmitted fromsatellites orbiting the earth. Besides global navigation satellites, thepositioning device 104 may also determine its location by utilizingother known positioning techniques. It is well known that by receivingradio signals from several different base stations, a mobile phone maydetermine its location. The positioning device 104 may utilize suchschemes as well. In an embodiment of the invention, the positioningdevice 106 applies proprietary positioning methods based on optical orelectromagnetic measurements.

The stride sensor 108 (or the swimming sensor) comprises one or moremotion sensors measuring the movement of the user, a processing unitconfigured to process the measured motion data of the user and totransmit the processed data to the wrist device 106 over a wirelessconnection. The motion sensor actually measures its own motion based onacceleration measurement, for example, and converts the accelerationinto an electric signal. The electric signal is converted into a digitalformat in an AD converter. Acceleration can be expressed by the unit ofmeasurement g. One g is the acceleration caused to an object by earth'sgravity. Accelerations between −2 and +2 g can usually be measured fromhuman movement. Various techniques may be used for measuringacceleration. Piezo-resistor technology employs material whoseresistance changes as it compresses. The acceleration of mass produces aforce in a piezo resistor. If a constant current is supplied through thepiezo resistor, its voltage changes according to the compression causedby acceleration. In piezo-electric technology, a piezo-electric sensorgenerates charging when the sensor is accelerated. In silicon bridgetechnology, a silicon chip is etched so that a silicon mass remains onit at the end of a silicon beam. If acceleration is directed to thesilicon chip, the silicon mass focuses a force on the silicon beam, thuschanging the resistance of the silicon beam. Micro-machined silicontechnology is based on the use of a differential capacitor. Voice coiltechnology is based on the same principle as a microphone. Examples ofsuitable movement sensors include: Analog Devices ADXL105, Pewatron HWor VTI Technologies SCA series. The implementation of the accelerometermay also be based on other appropriate techniques, for example on agyroscope integrated into a silicon chip or on a micro vibration switchincorporated into a surface mounting component.

In summary, the accessory apparatuses 102, 104, and 108 each comprise atleast one measurement sensor which measures some aspect of the exercise.The accessory apparatuses 102, 104, and 108 may provide raw measurementdata without further processing, as a conventional heart activity sensordoes, or the accessory apparatuses may process the raw data beforeoutputting it. In any case, conventional accessory apparatuses arehardwired to carry out a determined processing to the measured datawhich is very inflexible, i.e. their operational parameters are fixedand cannot be changed after the manufacturing process is complete.

FIG. 2 illustrates a generic block diagram of a system according to anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of thepresent invention provides a portable apparatus 102, 104, 108 comprisingan exercise-measurement circuitry 208 configured to measureexercise-related measurement data related to a user carrying out anexercise, a communication circuitry 212 configured to provide theportable apparatus with bidirectional wireless communication capability,a processing circuitry 206, and a memory 210.

The exercise-related measurement data is measurement data characterizingan exercise.

In an embodiment of the invention, the exercise-related measurement datacharacterizes the user's heart activity. The exercise-relatedmeasurement data may comprise a part of a single or multi-channel ECGsignal in the form of a character, such as timing instant, associatedwith a heart pulse.

In an embodiment of the invention, the exercise-related measurement datacharacterizes the user's motion. The exercise-related measurement datamay comprise one or multi-dimensional acceleration values, one ormulti-dimensional force values associated with degrees of freedom ofmotion, electric signals characters, such as voltage values, associatedwith the degrees of freedom of motion. The exercise-related measurementdata may also comprise advanced motion information, such as speedand/distance values which are usually provided by commercially availablemotion detectors. The motion may further be presented othercharacteristics, such as by pulses and amplitudes associated withmotion. The exercise-related measurement data may characterize motion ofuser's limbs, such as arms or leg, or it may present motion of user'soverall motion.

The processing circuitry 206 is configured to receive theexercise-related measurement data from the exercise-measurementcircuitry 208, to process the exercise-related measurement data in orderto obtain advanced or “refined” exercise-related data, and tocommunicate with an external user interface apparatus 106 over thebidirectional wireless communication connection through thecommunication circuitry 212 so as to cause transmission of the processedexercise-related measurement data to the user interface apparatus 106and to receive configuration data from the user interface apparatus 106.The configuration data may define how the exercise-related measurementdata is processed and the type of the advanced exercise-related data,and the received configuration data may be stored in the memory 210 foruse in the processing of the exercise-related measurement data. Theportable apparatus may be any one of the accessory apparatuses 102, 104,and 108 or a hybrid apparatus comprising a plurality of different typesof exercise-measurement circuitries, e.g. a heart-rate sensor, a motionsensor, and a positioning sensor.

Providing a bidirectional communication link between the portableapparatus 102, 104, 108 and the user interface apparatus 106 enablesinput of configuration data into the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108carrying out the measurement. As a consequence, the portable apparatus102, 104, 108 may carry out more sophisticated processing with respectto the measured exercise-related data on the basis of the receivedconfiguration data. For example, the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108may calculate higher level exercise-related information from themeasured data instead of simply forwarding the measured data to thewrist device for further processing. As the higher level calculationsare carried out physically close to the exercise-measurementcircuitries, even in the same housing, possible errors in conveying themeasured data for further processing become minimized.

The configuration data comprises data for configuring the portableapparatus 102, 104, 108 such that the processing of exercise-relateddata is affected.

In an embodiment of the invention, the configuration data comprisesuser-related parameters which characterizes the user or are specific tothe user. Examples of user-related parameters are name, physiologicalparameters such as age, weight, height, gender, body mass index, maximumperformance capacity, activity parameter, previous energy expenditureparameters maximum heart rate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the configuration data comprisesexercise-guidance parameters, such as energy expenditure target, heartrate zones, activity zones, anaerobic threshold, fitness classificationidentifier and/or dehydration warning limits. The heart rate or activityzones typically present limits within which a person shall exercise inorder to reach a desired training effect. The fitness classificationidentifier characterizes the user's physical condition as a maximumperformance capacity (VO2max), for example.

In an embodiment of the invention, the advanced exercise-related datacomprises heart rate distribution information. Let us assume that theexercise is divided into three heart rate zones, i.e. a first zone, asecond zone and a third zone. The heart rate distribution information inthis case comprises the accumulated time in each zone the user spentduring the exercise.

The user interface apparatus may be the wrist device 106 or anothercorresponding user interface device worn by the user. However, the userinterface apparatus is not limited to that, and it may be a personalcomputer, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, oranother computer device comprising a user interface for presenting theexercise-related measurement data to the user and for applyingconfiguration data to the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108. The userinterface apparatus comprises a communication circuitry 222 configuredto provide a bidirectional wireless communication connection with theportable apparatus 102, 104, 108. The user interface apparatus furthercomprises a user interface 228 enabling interaction with a user of theuser interface apparatus. The user interface 228 may comprise displayand input means as listed above. The user interface apparatus furthercomprises a processing circuitry 226 configured to communicate with theportable apparatus 102, 104, 108 through the communication circuitry 222so as to receive processed exercise-related measurement data from theportable apparatus 102, 104, 108, to present the received processedexercise-related measurement data to the user, to receive configurationdata from the user through the input means, and to cause transmission ofthe configuration data to the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108.

In an embodiment, the processing circuitry is implemented with a digitalsignal processor, a microcontroller, or another similar controllerconfigurable by computer programs. The user interface apparatus mayfurther comprise a memory 224 for storing such computer programs to beexecuted by the processing circuitry. An embodiment provides a computerprogram 232 comprising program instructions 234 which, when loaded intothe user interface apparatus 106, cause the user interface apparatus 106to carry out user interface and communication operations so as topresent information received from the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108to the user and to receive user inputs and forward the user inputs asthe configuration data to the portable apparatus 102, 104, 108.

The computer program 232 may be in source code form, object code form,or in some intermediate form. The computer program 232 may be stored inthe memory 224 or on a carrier 230 which may be any entity or devicecapable of carrying the program to the user interface apparatus 102. Thecarrier 230 may be a computer-readable storage medium. Besides this, thecarrier 230 may be implemented as follows, for example: the computerprogram 232 may be embodied on a record medium, stored in a computermemory, embodied in a read-only memory, carried on an electrical carriersignal, carried on a telecommunications signal, and/or embodied on asoftware distribution medium. In some jurisdictions, depending on thelegislation and the patent practice, the carrier 230 may not be thetelecommunications signal.

There are many ways to structure the program 232. The operations of theprogram may be divided into functional modules, sub-routines, methods,classes, objects, applets, macros, etc., depending on the softwaredesign methodology and the programming language used. In modernprogramming environments, there are software libraries, i.e.compilations of ready-made functions, which may be utilized by theprogram for performing a wide variety of standard operations.

Let us now consider the portable apparatus carrying out the measurementsand processing the measured data on the basis of the configuration datareceived over the wireless communication connection. FIG. 3 illustratesa more detailed block diagram of an embodiment of the portableapparatus, now in the form of a heart activity sensor 300. A typicalheart activity sensor 300 further includes support structure not shownwhich enables the user to attach the heart activity sensor 300 to hisbody, such as chest.

The heart activity sensor 300 may also include other sensors, asdescribed in greater detail below. The heart activity sensor 300receives measured heart-rate activity (ECG) signals from two or moreelectrodes 313, 314, 315 in contact with the user's body. The electrodes313 to 315 may be conventional electrodes commonly used in connectionwith training applications. The heart activity sensor 300 comprises aheart rate detection circuitry 302 configured to detect pulses (peaks)in the signal(s) received from the electrode(s) 313 to 315.

In an embodiment of the invention, the heart rate detection circuitry302 detects signatures, such as P, Q, R S and/or T wave from the EKG.The heart-rate detection circuitry may also filter the received signalsaccording to determined filtering parameters so as to improve theaccuracy of the pulse detection. Then, the heart-rate detectioncircuitry outputs detected pulse rate information to a processor 306configured to calculate higher level exercise-related information fromthe pulse rate information on the basis of configuration data retrievedfrom a memory 304.

In an embodiment, the heart activity sensor 300 receivesexercise-related measurement data from other sensors, such as atemperature sensor 316 measuring ambient or body temperature, a pressuresensor 318 measuring pressure, and/or a motion sensor 320 measuringuser's motions. In this context the pressure sensor 318 and temperaturesensor 316 may be referred to as a thermodynamic sensor.

The processor 306 may be configured to calculate higher levelexercise-related information from the exercise-related measurement datareceived from such sensors on the basis of configuration data retrievedfrom a memory 304. The connection between the heart activity sensor 300and the sensors 313 to 320 may be wired or wireless. The sensor(s) mayeven be disposed in the same housing as the heart activity sensor 300.

In the wireless embodiment, a sensor providing the measured data mayinclude a transmitter configured to process the measured data intoelectromagnetic radiation, and the heart activity sensor 300 maycomprise a receiver adapted to receive the electro-magnetic radiationfrom the sensor and to process the received electromagnetic radiationinto a form suitable for further processing. The heart activity sensor300 may also include a clock or a timer for counting time and durationof the exercise and to enable exercise guidance.

The processor 306 is in an embodiment realized by an ASIC(application-specific integrated circuit), but it can be foreseen thatthe processor is realized by a digital signal processor, amicrocontroller, or any other suitable processing unit selectedaccording to required processing capacity, power consumption, etc. Whenthe processor is a digital signal processor of any kind, the heartactivity sensor 300 may include one or more analog-to-digital convertersconverting the exercise-related measurement data output by the sensors313 to 320 into a digital form. Such a digital signal processor may beconfigured by one or more computer programs. The memory 304 may storesuch computer programs to be executed by the processor 306. Anembodiment provides a computer program comprising program instructionswhich, when loaded into the processor 306, cause the processor 306 tocarry out signal processing operations so as to calculate higher levelexercise-related data from the measurement data provided by the sensors,wherein the calculation is based on the configuration data stored in thememory 304. The above discussion related to the properties of suchcomputer programs and their carriers applies here, too.

As described above, the heart activity sensor 300 receives theconfiguration data over a bidirectional wireless communicationconnection from the user interface apparatus. The heart activity sensor300 comprises a wireless communication module 310 (corresponding to thecommunication circuitry described above) so as to enable thebidirectional wireless communication connection. The bidirectionalwireless communication connection refers to a connection that transferspayload data to both directions, i.e. not just radio-link specificcontrol signaling. The wireless communication module 310 may beconfigured to operate a single bidirectional wireless communication linkrealized according to the specifications of Bluetooth (or Bluetooth lowenergy), wireless USB (Universal Serial Bus) or Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4).The bidirectional connection may even utilize wireless local areanetwork (IEEE 802.11x) or mobile telecommunication technology, such asGSM or UMTS. In the case of GSM and UMTS (or another mobiletelecommunication system utilizing fixed public radio access networkinfrastructure, the configuration data may be input via a text message(SMS) or through a packet radio connection, e.g. GPRS, EDGE, W-CDMA,HSDPA/HSUPA, etc. known in the field of mobile telecommunications.

Alternatively, the wireless communication module 310 may include atleast two communication link modules 311 and 312, wherein a firstcommunication link module 311 is configured to transmit the processedhigher-level exercise-related measurement information (and otherinformation) to the user interface apparatus, and a second communicationlink module 312 is configured to receive the configuration data from theuser interface apparatus. The first communication link module 311 may bededicated for transmission only, and it may be configured to carry outthe transmission according to Bluetooth (or Bluetooth low energy), ANT,W.I.N.D, Zigbee, or inductive-based technology. The second communicationlink module 312 may be dedicated for reception only, and it may beconfigured to carry out the reception according to Bluetooth (orBluetooth low energy), Zigbee, wireless USB, or any other suitablewireless communication technology.

In an embodiment, the inductive-based technology is based on at leastone of the following frequencies: 27 kHz, 125 kHz, 131 kHz, 250 kHz, andbelow 10 kHz, such 5 kHz.

In an embodiment, both first and second communication link module 311and 312 are configured to establish bidirectional wireless links but todifferent user interface devices. The user may, for example, wear awrist device described above and a headset, and the first communicationlink module 311 may be configured to establish a first bidirectionalwireless communication link to the wrist device for presenting processedexercise-related data and for receiving the configuration data. Thesecond communication link module 312 may be configured to establish asecond bidirectional wireless communication link to the headset forplaying audible processed exercise-related data (or other audio) and forreceiving the configuration data. In the latter case, the headset mayinclude a microphone and a voice-recognition algorithm to detect voicecommands provided by the user and to forward the voice commands to theheart activity sensor 300 as the configuration data.

In another embodiment, the heart activity sensor is configured toestablish a first and a second wireless communication links, wherein thefirst link is used to convey control parameters controlling theoperation of the second link. The control parameters conveyed throughthe first link may include transmission power control parameters,modulation and/or coding parameters. Then, the heart activity sensorcomprised by the portable apparatus may control transmission parametersof the second link on the basis of control parameters received throughthe first link. However, the first link primary configured fortransmission of the payload data may also be used for transferring theadvanced exercise-related data and/or the configuration data.

In an embodiment, the received configuration data includesexercise-related parameters, and the processor 306 is configured toprocess the received exercise-related measurement data by calculatingthe higher level exercise-related information from the receivedexercise-related measurement data on the basis of the receivedconfiguration data. The processor 306 may be configured to carry out atleast one of an activity calculation algorithm, an energy expenditurecalculation algorithm, a motion level algorithm, a fitness testalgorithm, and a heart rate limits estimation algorithm. In order toenable the execution of such algorithms, the processor 306 receivesadditional parameters as the configuration data through the wirelesscommunication module 310. Such parameters may include characteristics ofthe user and/or the training, and the parameters may be stored inassociation with a given user profile into the memory 304 for use by thealgorithms. The memory 304 may store a plurality of user profiles of agroup using the same heart activity sensor. Each user profile mayspecify user-specific parameters relating to the user of the heartactivity sensor.

The processor 306 may also store in the memory measured data receivedfrom the one or more sensors listed above. The processor may accumulatea determined amount of measured data before calculating the furtherexercise information from the measured data. Such measured data storedin the memory may include single- or multi-channel ECG, temperature,ambient pressure, motion data in the form of acceleration versus time.The processor may also calculate some information derivable directlyfrom the measured data without external configuration data, e.g. heartrate values, heart rate variability, RR intervals (duration between twoconsecutive R waves of the ECG), generic dehydration state calculatedfrom the temperature, travel distance calculated from the motion data,motion analysis related to a swimming or running style, for example,mechanical training load based on the motion only without user-specificparameters etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process for calculating higher level exerciserelated information from the measured data and the configuration data.The process may be carried out in the portable apparatus according toembodiments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the process starts inblock 400. In block 402, the configuration data is acquired. Theconfiguration data is received as a user input from the user interfacedevice over a wireless communication link and stored in the memory foracquisition. The configuration data may include user-specific parametersand/or exercise-guidance parameters defining the guidance orinstructions for the exercise to be conducted by the user. In practice,not all the user-specific and/or exercise-guidance parameters need to beconveyed over the wireless link every time the exercise is started. Suchparameters may have been transferred to the portable apparatusbeforehand when the user has set up the system. The user may simplyidentify himself/herself through the user interface input and optionallyinput the type of exercise he/she wishes to carry out. The userinterface apparatus then conveys according information to the portableapparatus over the wireless link. In response to the reception of theuser and exercise identification data, the portable apparatus mayacquire corresponding user-related parameters and exercise guidanceparameters from the memory. The portable apparatus may also activateand/or deactivate sensors on the basis of the type of exercise is to beconducted in order to disable unnecessary sensors and save batterypower.

In block 404, exercise-related measurement data is acquired directlyfrom the sensors and/or from the memory. The measurement data mayinclude raw measurement data received from the sensors and/or processeddata such as the heart rate and/or heart rate variability. In block 406,the higher level exercise-related information is calculated on the basisof the measurement data acquired in block 404 and the configuration dataacquired in block 402. Next, a few examples of the advanced exerciserelated data is listed.

In an embodiment, energy expenditure is calculated by using the heartrate as the measurement data and age, gender, weight, height, and afitness index as the user-related configuration data. In this case, theadvanced exercise-related data includes energy expenditure data. Theenergy expenditure data may include the total energy expenditure duringa specific exercise, energy expenditure rates during exercise, energyexpenditure in metabolic component levels, such as fats, carbohydratesand/or proteins.

In an embodiment, fitness parameters (e.g. VO2max value known also asmaximal oxygen uptake) is calculated by using the heart rate and/orhearty rate variability as the measurement data and age and gender asthe configuration data. In this case, the advanced exercise-related datacomprises a fitness parameter. The fitness parameter may presented inany unit, such as activity unit, from which a fitness parameter may bederived. An example of relating activity and fitness parameter is aJackson formula, which provides a relationship between the maximumoxygen uptake and estimated physical activity.

In an embodiment, a relaxation estimate is calculated by using the heartrate variability or a parameter proportional to the heart ratevariability as the measurement data. In this case, the advancedexercise-related data includes a relaxation estimate. The relaxationestimate may also be calculated from the power spectrum of the ECG. Inan embodiment of the invention, a relaxation estimate may is obtainedfrom the trend of heart rate value when a person is a in a recoveryphase after high-load exercise phase. The relaxation estimate maycharacterize the physical or mental relaxation of a person.

In an embodiment, training load is calculated on the basis of mechanicalstress derived by using the motion data, cardiovascular training loadderived by using the heart rate, and/or pressure information (indicatingair/water pressure) as the measurement data and age, gender, and weightas the configuration data. The training load characterizes the effect ofthe training in terms of physical load and the resulting need forrecovery. In this case, the advanced exercise-related data includestraining load parameter or associated recovery need parameter.

In an embodiment, user-specific heart rate zones, such as that based onheart rate variability, are calculated by using the heart rate as themeasurement data and age, gender, and fitness classification as theconfiguration data.

In an embodiment, recovery estimate is calculated by using the heartrate variability as the measurement data. In this case, the advancedexercise-related data comprises the recovery estimate. A recoveryestimate is a parameter which characterizes the user's recovery status.The recovery estimate may be presented by time required for a desiredlevel of recovery. In an embodiment, the recovery status is presented ina form of exercise instruction which is may be given in time required toa predetermined recovery state.

In an embodiment, a dehydration estimate is calculated by using theheart rate and the temperature as the measurement data and possibly age,gender, weight and/height as the configuration data. In this case, theadvanced exercise-related data comprises a dehydration estimate. Thedehydration estimate may be presented with the amount of beverage orbeverage component, such as water or sodium, required to obtain adesired hydration state. In an embodiment, the temperature sensor 316and heart rate sensor 300 are used in the portable apparatus 102, 104,108.

Other algorithms known in the field of exercise-related algorithms maybe calculated in block 406 as well. Block 406 may also (oralternatively) include comparison of the (processed) measurement datawith exercise-guidance parameters received as the configuration data.The current heart rate may be compared with heart rate targets definedas the configuration data for the workout. Other measurement data orhigher level exercise-related data calculated in block 406 may becompared with corresponding targets received as the configuration dataso as to determine whether or not the workout follows the predeterminedinstructions. In these cases, the advanced exercise-related datacomprises indication signals that carry information on the state of thecurrent exercise relative to the data comprised by the configurationdata. The indication signal may give rise to audible or visible alarm inthe user interface apparatus 102,104,108.

In block 408, transmission of the exercise-related data or other data tothe user interface apparatus is controlled. The exercise-related datatransmitted to the user interface apparatus may include higher-levelinformation calculated in block 406 or other exercise-relatedinformation.

The exercise-related information transmitted in block 408 may includeinformation transmitted periodically on a continuous basis during theexercise, e.g. energy expenditure, heart rate, heart rate variability,temperature, travel speed and/or distance, relaxation estimate, fitnessparameter, exercise zone status, current training load (mechanical,cardiovascular, their combination or both), and dehydration state. Theinterval between successive transmissions may be 1 second, but thetransmission interval may be adjustable parameter.

The exercise-related information transmitted in block 408 may alsoinclude information transmitted once after the workout, such as ECG, RRdata, motion sensor data as the function of time, etc. As the otherinformation, system information, such as memory status, processingstatus, etc. may be transmitted automatically or upon a request receivedfrom the user interface apparatus in response to the user input. Anyexercise-related information calculated in block 406 may also betransmitted in block 408 only in response to the request received overthe wireless communication link from the user interface apparatus.

Additionally, control information controlling the exercise may betransmitted in block 408 in response to the operations carried out inblock 406. For example, if in block it has been determined that thecurrent heart rate is not within the current target heart rate limits(in the appropriate heart rate zone), a corresponding notification maybe sent in block 408 to notify the user to either increase or decreasetraining load. In response to the reception of such a message, the userinterface apparatus displays appropriate icon in the display and/orplays appropriate sounds through a loudspeaker so as to instruct theuser.

In an embodiment, the configuration data includes sensor filtering datacontrolling the heart-rate detection circuitry 302 or anothercorresponding circuitry carrying out pre-processing of signals providedby one or more of the sensors 313 to 320 listed above. As mentionedabove, the heart-rate detection circuitry filters the electricmeasurement signals provided by the electrodes 313 to 315 so as toimprove the detection accuracy. The filtering parameters may beadaptive, and different filtering parameters may be used according to agiven criterion, e.g. ambient conditions (temperature), exercise type(running, cycling, roller skating) etc. As a consequence, the filteringparameters may be input from the user interface apparatus as aconfiguration data and applied to the heart-rate detection circuitry soas to carry out the filtering according to the filtering parameters. Thefiltering parameters may control the heart-rate detection circuitry 302to implement a specific physical filtering circuitry.

In an embodiment, the processing capacity of the wireless communicationmodule 310 is utilized in the calculation of the higher-levelexercise-related information. The capacity of the wireless communicationmodule 310 may be over-sized or it may be in use only occasionally and,thus, the processor 306 of the portable apparatus may monitor theloading of the wireless communication module 310, e.g. its modemprocessor, and assign computation operations and/or sub-routines to thewireless communication module 310 when it detects that there isprocessing capacity available in the wireless communication module 310.The processor 306 may instruct the wireless communication module 310 toexecute the computation of any one of the above-listed higher-levelcomputations or a sub-routine of such a computation.

As mentioned above, the portable apparatus according to embodiments ofthe invention may be the heart activity sensor in contact with theuser's body for heart-rate measurement, the stride sensor attached tothe user's shoe, the positioning device attachable to the arm of theuser, a bike sensor attached to the bike, a swimming sensor attachableto the arm of the user, or a hybrid of any of the device listed above.

The portable apparatus processes the exercise-related measurement dataso as to derive higher-level exercise-related information on the basisof the configuration data received from the user interface apparatusover the bidirectional wireless connection. The portable device itselfmay be provided with no user interface at all, and the user interactionis carried out through the user interface apparatus over thebidirectional wireless connection. However, the invention should not belimited to the devices with no user interface and, actually, anembodiment with the user interface is described below.

The portable apparatus receives the configuration data from the userinterface apparatus and transmits the advanced exercise-relatedinformation to the user interface apparatus. The actual payload datatransferred between the portable apparatus and the user interfaceapparatus may be designed in various manners. For example, the portableapparatus may transmit the advanced exercise-related information to theuser interface apparatus in binary values defining the proportions ofthe different types of the exercise-related information. The transferredvalues are associated with the corresponding types of theexercise-related information, e.g. the values may be provided indedicated fields of the transferred messages.

In another embodiment, the advanced exercise-related data compriseslow-level raw data, such as pixel values of a display unit, therebycontrolling the user interface apparatus to display the exercise-relateddata.

Referring now back to FIG. 3, in an aspect of the invention, theportable apparatus comprises an audio decoder and audio playbackcircuitry 308, and the configuration data received from the userinterface apparatus may be control data controlling the playback andoperation of the audio decoder and playback circuitry 308. The audiodecoder may be an MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) decoder, a Windows Media Audiodecoder, or any other audio decoder known in the art and configured todecode and extract encoded and compressed audio tracks stored in thememory 304. The memory 304 storing the audio tracks may be the samephysical non-volatile memory circuitry used in connection with otheroperations of the portable apparatus, or the audio tracks may be storedin an external, detachable memory unit, e.g. a memory card (SD, Memorystick, or another type of flash memory). The audio playback circuitry308 may include an audio signal amplifier to amplify the decoded audiotracks and an audio output interface to output the audio tracks beingplayed. The audio output interface may be realized by wired headphoneconnections known in the art, and/or the audio output interface mayutilize the wireless communication module 310 to provide the audiooutput to Bluetooth-equipped headphones, for example. The portableapparatus may also transmit audio playback information to the userinterface apparatus, e.g. the wrist device, over the wirelessbidirectional connection so as to display the playback information tothe user. The playback information may include the name of an audiotrack currently played, an artist, playback duration (elapsed timeand/or remaining time), the next song, a playlist, MP3 metadata, etc.The configuration data received from the user interface apparatus overthe wireless connection may include control data indicating the playbackof the next track, activation/disabling the music playback, volumecontrol data, etc. Additionally, the portable apparatus may includewired means for transferring the audio tracks into the memory. Suchmeans may include a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The USBinterface may also be used for recharging a battery (not shown) of theportable apparatus.

In an embodiment where at least some of the components of the portableapparatus, e.g. the processor 306, the audio decoder 308, and/or thewireless communication module, are controlled by software, a softwareupdate is applied to the portable apparatus as the configuration datafrom the user interface apparatus. The software update may betransferred to the portable apparatus over the bidirectional wirelesscommunication link and, upon completion of the transfer, the portableapparatus is configured to carry out the software version upgrade. Inanother embodiment, the software upgrade is carried out through thewired USB connection.

As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to all of thefollowing: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such asimplementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) tocombinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (whenapplicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions ofprocessor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software,and memory (memories) that work together to cause an apparatus toperform various functions, and (c) to circuits, such as amicroprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requiresoftware or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware isnot physically present.

This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in thisapplication. As a further example, as used in this application, the term“circuitry” would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (ormultiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their)accompanying software and/or firmware. The term “circuitry” would alsocover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, abaseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuitfor a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellularnetwork device, or other network device.

It should be noted that while the Figures illustrate various embodimentsof the portable apparatus and the user interface apparatus, they aresimplified block diagrams that only show some elements and functionalentities, all being logical units whose implementation may differ fromwhat is shown. The connections shown in these figures are logicalconnections; the actual physical connections may be different.Interfaces between the various elements may be implemented with suitableinterface technologies. It is apparent to a person skilled in the artthat the described apparatuses may also comprise other functions andstructures. It should be appreciated that details of some functions,structures, and elements, and the protocols used for communication areirrelevant to the actual invention. Therefore, they need not bediscussed in more detail here, because such discussion might blur theinvention with unnecessary details. The implementation and features ofthe apparatuses according to the invention develop rapidly. Suchdevelopment may require extra changes to the embodiments describedabove. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpretedbroadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, theembodiments. Although the apparatuses have been depicted as separatesingle entities, different parts may be implemented in one or morephysical or logical entities. It will be obvious to a person skilled inthe art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can beimplemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are notlimited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable apparatus comprising: a housingcomprising: a heart activity sensor configured to measure heart activitymeasurement data related to a user carrying out a physical exercise; acommunication circuitry configured to provide the portable apparatuswith wireless communication capability; a memory unit configured tostore an audio track; and a processing circuitry configured to receiveconfiguration data from an external user interface apparatus over thebidirectional wireless communication connection established through thecommunication circuitry, wherein the received configuration dataincludes control data controlling audio playback of the audio track, toprocess and play the audio track according to the received configurationdata, and wherein the portable apparatus further comprises a supportstructure which enables attachment of the portable apparatus to a bodyof the user.
 2. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to communicate data relatedto the audio track being played to the user interface apparatus over thebidirectional wireless communication connection.
 3. The portableapparatus of claim 2, wherein the data related to the audio trackcomprises the processed audio track.
 4. The portable apparatus of claim2, wherein the data related to the audio track comprises at least one ofthe following: a name of the audio track, an artist of the audio track,playback duration, elapsed time of the audio track, remaining time ofthe audio track, the next song, and a playlist.
 5. The portableapparatus of claim 1, wherein the received configuration data furtherincludes said control data controlling operation of an audio decoderconfigured to decode the audio track.
 6. The portable apparatus of claim1, wherein the configuration data comprises a software version update,and wherein the processing circuitry is configured, upon completion ofthe reception of the software update from the user interface apparatus,to carry out the software version update.
 7. The portable apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the software version update is for an audio decoderconfigured to decode the audio track.
 8. The portable apparatus of claim1, wherein the memory further stores measurement data acquired from atleast one of said heart activity sensor or another heart activitysensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a positioning sensorand a motion sensor, and wherein the processing circuitry is configuredto calculate at least some of the following information from themeasurement data with or without the configuration data: RR intervalsrepresenting duration between two consecutive R waves of anelectrocardiogram, heart rate values, or heart rate variability derivedfrom measurement data measured by the heart activity sensor, genericdehydration state calculated from temperature measured by thetemperature sensor, travel distance calculated from measurement datameasured by the motion sensor or the positioning sensor, motion analysisrelated to a swimming or running style calculated from measurement datameasured by the motion sensor, and mechanical training load calculatedfrom measurement data measured by the motion sensor.
 9. The portableapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to output the audio track to an audio output interfacecomprised in the housing.
 10. A method for processing data in a portableapparatus comprising a support structure which enables attachment of theportable apparatus to a body of the user, the method comprising:acquiring exercise-related measurement data by using anexercise-measurement sensor comprised in a housing of the portableapparatus; establishing a bidirectional wireless communicationconnection through a communication circuitry with an external userinterface apparatus, wherein the communication circuitry is comprised inthe housing; storing an audio track in a memory unit comprised in thehousing; receiving configuration data from the external user interfaceapparatus over the bidirectional wireless communication connection,wherein the received configuration data includes control datacontrolling audio playback of the audio track; and processing andplaying the audio track according to the received configuration data andoutputting the audio track to an audio output interface comprised in thehousing.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicatingdata related to the audio track being played to the user interfaceapparatus over the bidirectional wireless communication connection. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein the data related to the audio trackcomprises the processed audio track.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe data related to the audio track comprises at least one of thefollowing: a name of the audio track, an artist of the audio track,playback duration, elapsed time of the audio track, remaining time ofthe audio track, the next song, and a playlist.
 14. The method of claim10, wherein the received configuration data further includes saidcontrol data controlling audio decoding of the audio track.
 15. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the configuration data comprises a softwareversion update, and the method further comprises, upon completion of thereception of the software update from the user interface apparatus,carrying out the software version update.
 16. The portable apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the software version update is for audio decoding ofthe audio track.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:storing, in a memory, measurement data acquired from at least one ofsaid heart activity sensor or another heart activity sensor, atemperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a positioning sensor and a motionsensor; and calculating at least some of the following information fromthe measurement data with or without the configuration data: RRintervals representing duration between two consecutive R waves of anelectrocardiogram, heart rate values, or heart rate variability derivedfrom measurement data measured by the heart activity sensor, genericdehydration state calculated from temperature measured by thetemperature sensor, travel distance calculated from measurement datameasured by the motion sensor or the positioning sensor, motion analysisrelated to a swimming or running style calculated from measurement datameasured by the motion sensor, and mechanical training load calculatedfrom measurement data measured by the motion sensor.
 18. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising outputting the audio track to an audiooutput interface comprised in the housing.